Indigenous Women in Leadership & Award Dinner

Pre-event networking reception will take place at the Alberta Ballroom.

We invite you to visit and explore the Indigenous Marketplace, which will feature a diverse selection of Indigenous artisans and businesses, offering unique products and showcasing local craftsmanship.

Presented by Deloitte

Alberta Ballroom, Mezzanine Level

Pick up your badge, grab a coffee and connect with fellow attendees.

Presented by Bird Construction

Crystal Ballroom Foyer, Lobby Level

Take your networking to the next level with Prompty. Hear from Founder & CEO, James McInnes, about how this Canadian and Indigenous-owned technology is transforming the way we connect. Designed as a relationship manager, not a social network, Prompty makes in-person networking more efficient, enjoyable, and secure. As CCIB’s official event app, Prompty will power your on-site experience from start to finish.

Don’t forget to pick up your Prompty networking tool onsite and join the event in advance (link provided upon registration).

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level

This segment brings together a series of inspiring 7-minute talks from diverse voices, all aligned with our 2026 event theme: Rooted in Purpose. Growing through Connection. Through powerful insights, ideas, and stories, in a concise, engaging format, sparking conversation, deepening connection, and inspiring action.

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level

Loretta Tuttauk will serve as Circle Keeper, supporting The Grounding Space through prayer, song, tea, smudge spray, and meaningful conversation. She will hold a welcoming and intentional space for participants to slow down, reconnect, and feel grounded.

Please note that space is limited for this session.

Birch Room, M Level

From Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness

Kindness isn’t Soft – It is Strategic

Lateral violence—often rooted in colonial disruption and intergenerational trauma—can show up as exclusion, gossip, and gatekeeping, impacting individuals, teams, and outcomes. But there is a practical path forward.

This interactive session explores lateral kindness as a powerful leadership practice—grounded in Indigenous values and focused on real-world application. Participants will learn how to shift behaviors, build trust, and create cultures where people feel safe, respected, and able to contribute fully.

You’ll walk away with tools to:

• Recognize and interrupt harmful patterns
• Foster cultural, emotional, and psychological safety
• Practice “calling in” to strengthen accountability and relationships
• Embed reciprocity, humility, and shared success into leadership

Designed for leaders and changemakers, this session offers a clear, actionable approach to building stronger, healthier organizations and communities.

Lake Louise Room, Mezzanine Level

“Ask the Table”: Bring Your Toughest Business Challenge

A collaborative, problem-solving roundtable designed for real-world business impact. This interactive session invites participants to bring a current challenge, whether related to growth, leadership, operations, or strategy, and engage in focused, peer-to-peer discussion. Through these conversations, attendees will gain fresh perspectives and valuable insights, offering a unique opportunity to see their challenge through new lenses and uncover approaches they may not have previously considered.

Banff Ballroom, Mezzanine Level

wâsikan kisewâtisiwin – AI with Heart: How We Built an Indigenous-Led and Informed LLM

Too often, generic AI tools flatten or misstate Indigenous histories and protocols because the data they’re trained on under-represents Indigenous voices. We created wâsikan kisewâtisiwin, an Indigenous-led writing assistant, that helps communicators spot harmful phrasing, offers respectful rewrites, and explains why the change matters. The heart of this work is story stewardship: elevating Indigenous voices, protecting sacred knowledge, and ensuring consent and benefit flow back to community.

wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is a writing tool using artificial intelligence to assist non-Indigenous people in their efforts to write about Indigenous Peoples. Like other plug-in subscription tools that assist writers with grammar and spelling, wâsikan kisewâtisiwin corrects unconscious bias or racism in written material.

Shani will walk through how they centre story stewardship, data sovereignty, and consent at every stage of the model lifecycle, and what it means to design “AI with heart” grounded in matriarchal values rather than purely technical efficiency. Attendees will leave with concrete examples and principles they can bring back to their own institutions and AI projects.

Delegates will learn:

• How and why conventional AI systems can cause harm when dealing with Indigenous content
• A different perspective on how AI can be built and governed in true partnership with communities
• Why including Indigenous voices, governance, and data sovereignty is critical in AI projects
• What we mean by “matriarchal AI” and how centring care, relationships, and consent changes technical decisions
• Practical examples of how wâsikan kisewâtisiwin flags and gently rewrites harmful or inaccurate language about Indigenous Peoples
• How AI can be more sustainable and ethical when you put values first

Oval Room, Lobby Level

Enjoy a variety of dishes while networking with fellow attendees.

This intergenerational panel brings together CEOs and young Indigenous business professionals to explore leadership capacity building and why it is essential to driving innovation and supporting sustainability. Panelists will share their learnings and experiences navigating corporate and entrepreneurial landscapes, while building resilience and leading with integrity. Hear from Indigenous women at every stage of the executive and entrepreneurial journey on what it takes to build leadership that strategically shapes the future rather than simply reacts to the environment.

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level

Presented by Shell Canada

From Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness

Kindness isn’t Soft – It is Strategic

Lateral violence—often rooted in colonial disruption and intergenerational trauma—can show up as exclusion, gossip, and gatekeeping, impacting individuals, teams, and outcomes. But there is a practical path forward.

This interactive session explores lateral kindness as a powerful leadership practice—grounded in Indigenous values and focused on real-world application. Participants will learn how to shift behaviors, build trust, and create cultures where people feel safe, respected, and able to contribute fully.

You’ll walk away with tools to:

• Recognize and interrupt harmful patterns
• Foster cultural, emotional, and psychological safety
• Practice “calling in” to strengthen accountability and relationships
• Embed reciprocity, humility, and shared success into leadership

Designed for leaders and changemakers, this session offers a clear, actionable approach to building stronger, healthier organizations and communities.

Lake Louise Room, Mezzanine Level

“Ask the Table”: Bring Your Toughest Business Challenge

A collaborative, problem-solving roundtable designed for real-world business impact. This interactive session invites participants to bring a current challenge, whether related to growth, leadership, operations, or strategy, and engage in focused, peer-to-peer discussion. Through these conversations, attendees will gain fresh perspectives and valuable insights, offering a unique opportunity to see their challenge through new lenses and uncover approaches they may not have previously considered.

Banff Ballroom, Mezzanine Level

wâsikan kisewâtisiwin – AI with Heart: How We Built an Indigenous-Led and Informed LLM

Too often, generic AI tools flatten or misstate Indigenous histories and protocols because the data they’re trained on under-represents Indigenous voices. We created wâsikan kisewâtisiwin, an Indigenous-led writing assistant, that helps communicators spot harmful phrasing, offers respectful rewrites, and explains why the change matters. The heart of this work is story stewardship: elevating Indigenous voices, protecting sacred knowledge, and ensuring consent and benefit flow back to community.

wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is a writing tool using artificial intelligence to assist non-Indigenous people in their efforts to write about Indigenous Peoples. Like other plug-in subscription tools that assist writers with grammar and spelling, wâsikan kisewâtisiwin corrects unconscious bias or racism in written material.

Shani will walk through how they centre story stewardship, data sovereignty, and consent at every stage of the model lifecycle, and what it means to design “AI with heart” grounded in matriarchal values rather than purely technical efficiency. Attendees will leave with concrete examples and principles they can bring back to their own institutions and AI projects.

Delegates will learn:

• How and why conventional AI systems can cause harm when dealing with Indigenous content
• A different perspective on how AI can be built and governed in true partnership with communities
• Why including Indigenous voices, governance, and data sovereignty is critical in AI projects
• What we mean by “matriarchal AI” and how centring care, relationships, and consent changes technical decisions
• Practical examples of how wâsikan kisewâtisiwin flags and gently rewrites harmful or inaccurate language about Indigenous Peoples
• How AI can be more sustainable and ethical when you put values first

Oval Room, Lobby Level

Winona Lafreniere will serve as Wellness Space Keeper, holding intentional space for participants to slow down, reconnect, and return to themselves. She welcomes you to share in tea, smudging, and meaningful conversation throughout the afternoon.

Please note that space is limited for this session.

Birch Room, M Level

Enjoy some refreshments and light snacks.

This session will explore the wisdom and teachings of Elders through a meaningful dialogue that highlights the importance of intergenerational connection, knowledge sharing, and the role of Elders in strengthening leadership. Audience members will leave with a deeper appreciation for Indigenous ways of knowing, along with practical insights on how to carry these teachings forward in their professional lives.

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level

This special keynote address features CCIB’s President & CEO, Tabatha Bull, reflecting on her leadership journey and what she has learned during her time at CCIB. Drawing from her personal experience as an Indigenous woman leading at the national level, Tabatha will share stories and insights on resilience, impact, and the importance of making decisions rooted in your values. Grounded in a message of self-trust and growth, Tabatha shares how she has learned to honour her path and make way for others to lead.

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level

Presented by Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)

A final reflection on the day’s insights and a note of thanks to our speakers, sponsors, and guests.

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level

Join us for an evening reception to network with attendees over cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres.

Crystal Ballroom Foyer, Lobby Level

Enjoy a delicious dinner that complements the evening’s celebration and fosters meaningful connections.

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level

Award Category Presentation: Indigenous Women in Leadership

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level

Conclusion of the evening with a heartfelt thanks and recognition of the outstanding achievements celebrated tonight.

Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level